HEALTH OFFICER

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up!

Click here to learn more about UNICEF:   https://youtu.be/43aiG4w2q_M

For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference.

The Health Officer (Immunization) reports to the Health Specialist and is a member of the health team in UP. The Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the Health Program within the Country Program from development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative program tasks to facilitate program development, implementation, program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting of results.

Major duties and responsibilities:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to program development and planning:

• Support conducting/updating situation analysis for the program sector/s for development, design, and management of health/Immunization including COVID-19 vaccination-related programs. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, health) for higher management use to enhance program management, efficiency, and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of sectoral program goals, objectives, and strategies and results-based planning through analysis of health needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical program transactions, preparing materials/documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required documentation/materials to facilitate the program review and approval process.

2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations, and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision. Keep a record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programs and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular/mandated sectoral program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

3. Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Conduct regular program field visits and surveys and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on health and related issues to support program implementation, operations and delivery of results.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance program implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fundraising for health programs.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) on health programs to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of health programs/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity-building

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
• Assist with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• A University Degree in public health/nutrition, pediatric health, Immunization, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, epidemiology, or other health-related sciences is required.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in public health planning and management and/or in relevant areas of the Immunization programme, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the international level and/or in a developing country is required. Experience in health program/project development in UN system agency or organization is an asset. Experience in planning and management of COVID-19 vaccination is an asset. Experience in reporting (to donors or other external audiences) is an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of other Indian or another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset,

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values (Required)

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Competency Areas

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

• Specific Technical Knowledge Required 
• Technical knowledge about health programmes specifically Routine Immunization.
• Common Technical Knowledge Required 
• Technical knowledge about maternal, newborn and child survival strategies and comprehensive primary health care.
• General knowledge of:
• Principles of programme management including planning, monitoring and evaluation. Basic knowledge of Microsoft office.
• Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced 
• Approaches for delivering immunization services through an integrated primary health care approach

View our competency framework here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history.  Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:  

• This VA is open for Indian nationals.
• This position is based in Lucknow (India).
• Selected applicant will have a 364 days Temporary Appointment contract.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a non-smoking working environment.